Without getting into the details, I’ve been dealing with some mobility issues of late and it means that accessing culture has not been as easy as it has been in the past for me.

My issues are not permanent and I’m sure in no time I will be bounding up The Moustache Club stairs two at a go.

For many, however, physical barriers to culture are permanent and so the question is asked, how accessible should culture be and who is responsible for ensuring it is?

Adam White is a published poet and a community activist familiar to those involved in the cultural life of downtown Oshawa. He is a fixture at the area’s karaoke nights and was instrumental in creating the conditions allowing The Open Vault to form and flourish.

“I have had a brain and spinal tumour removed, I am hard of hearing, have a cataract, I have scoliosis and right drop-foot,” he says.

White credits the receipt of his hearing device and a move to the core with opening him up to the opportunities to live a culturally rich life in Oshawa.

“Being downtown, I have befriended a lot of artists, musicians and performers and been invited to art shows, open mics and cultural events. Because of the enthusiasm of arts, music and culture, a collective of artists formed The Vault (now The Open Vault). I see The Open Vault as a grassroots co-operative with potential to be a springboard for shaping careers for entrepreneurial artists, musicians, performers and community animators in Oshawa and Durham,” he says.

White says while he can get around quite well with his walking stick and many places are accessible, his physical disability does limit his participation if it involves much standing or walking.

“I wanted to attend the 10th annual Peony Fest, at the Botanical Gardens. A shuttle bus would have been convenient -- along with a cart to drive around and enjoy the whole event. Instead I over-exerted myself walking to the show, went into one building and had to leave early because of exhaustion,” he says.

Jazz and blues singer/songwriter Heather Luckhart has been dealing with her own mobility issues for more than a year, the result of a physical assault in 2012. Luckhart performs in venues across Durham Region, Toronto and the GTA. She says she has friends who help her fulfil gig obligations but one thing is particularly inconvenient.

“One really big issue is that the washrooms in most of the venues in downtown Oshawa are in the basements,” Luckhart says. “This either means that I only go out for a very limited amount of time, or that I have to get quite a lot of assistance to get down the stairs.”

She says ordering drinks is also difficult as she is too low at the bar in her wheelchair and too unsteady in her walker to carry a glass. Although, given the bathroom issue, this may be a blessing in disguise.

Luckhart points to Wasted Space as a venue that is cognizant of accessibility issues.

“It is one of my favourite spots,” she says. “They often come to me if they notice I haven’t been up to the bar. Without fail, someone there has always carried my food or drink for me. They have plenty of places to sit. Their washrooms are really easy to get to and use. They have a ramp that includes access to their patio.

“I miss being able to go on patios,” she adds.

The physical challenges do not impact her ability to perform, but being unable to move into or around a venue will determine where she plays and also where she patronizes. She says when they go out, her friends wish to support the small restaurants and bars downtown but they have to move on if she can’t get in with them.

“Washrooms on main levels would make things so much easier and ramps. It stings to look at a tiny step and know that it is stopping you from joining the party,” she says.

Visual artist Jeff Morrison (and one half of the music duo Morrison Hawkes) has been a quadriplegic since 1977 when he broke his neck diving into a neighbour’s pool.

Morrison says accessibility is an issue he confronts on a daily basis. While he was culturally active prior to the accident (he was writing original songs in high school), the arts have become a vital part of his life.

“Being creative and experiencing creativity is very therapeutic,” says Morrison. “It elevates consciousness and transports us away from everyday concerns.”

The irony beneath the statement is that those who benefit most from cultural activities can be the very ones being denied access.

Part 2 next week.

William McGuirk is a freelance writer and longtime Oshawa resident. He can be contacted at wmacg@yahoo.com .